Berlin Calling

Berlin Calling

1. Drugs are an everyday part of life to Ickarus.  He finds it to help him create better music, finding that it gives him an artistic release. The usage of cocaine helps him to remain awake for a longer period of time, so he can stay up and alert throughout his performances.
2. The techno party crowd usually take some form of Ecstasy or hallucinogenic drug. However, the usage of synthetic drugs and cocaine are also prevalent.  Rampant usage of these drugs during the performance makes them feel more in tune to the music and they can feel the notes. The cocaine helps them to stay awake and keep dancing through the night.
3. This culture focuses on drugs because this gives them the ability to do things that they think they can't do without. After the initial usage it becomes a part of life and an everyday occurrence to them.  This is in part a chemical dependency.
4. I come from what was to be considered a standard american midwestern family, mother, father, and sibling. We support each other however live under strict rule.  If I were to have fallen into drugs, or any "deviant" behavior I would be disowned and cast from the family.  The support would not be there for me as it was from his father and girlfriend.  Through all of Ickarus' downfall his family was there to be there for him.
5. The youth as depicted will not cripple the industries of Germany.  Although they are seen as a drug influenced society, the need for work and monetary support still remains prevalent.  The dedication to work shown by Ickarus and his girlfriend show the necessity and the strong industry that wwill continue to thrive.
6. Easy Rider, and even to a smaller extent American History X was a similar cult movie styling to the Berlin calling film.

At this point of the film I can understand the drug usage and the connection of Techno/Rave parties and the inner city culture.  These are common practices I believe today even in American societies.  This shows the down fall of urban culture and the dependencies of synthetics and some form of a chemical to survive and live.  Unfortunately today's society has become far too dependent on chemicals and prescription drugs.

In American society you will still find all the things we have seen so far in the film.  However, most of which are hidden to most of the people, and these acts only effect a small portion of the american culture.  In looking at this it makes sense, due to the fact that we as American's are decedents of a culmination of all cultures and societies.

As the film had progressed  and finished it became apparent that the hard work ethic put in by Ickarus to get his album together and finalized to a "rockin, and kick ass jams" album.  The full circle of character development by Ickarus and the doctor was excellently laid out, and satisfaction given to the people watching however "real" the film may have come across.  The second half of the film told a great story and showed how deep the love for his work ran in him.  Music was Ickarus' calming aspect that truly brought him closer to the people around him and helped him fit in as lonely as he was portrayed throughout a majority of the film.

Freikorperkultur, also known as FKK, is a German movement whose name translates to Free Body Culture.  [1] This is a form of naturism.  Naturism is defined as a cultural and political movement practicing, advocating, and defending social nudity, most of which takes place on a private property. The term may also refer to a lifestyle based on personal, family and/or social nudism. [2] 

                The FKK German movement was the first worldwide and marked as the start of an increased acceptance of public nudity in Germany.  In 1898 the first Freikörperkultur club was founded in Essen. In 1900 more and more Swedish baths arose in rooms in Berlin and on the North and Baltic seas and a naturist movement began in France.  This movement was based on the ideals that the human body was NOT a source of shame. Also, it does not involve sexuality.  With political liberalization, conservative circles challenged the nude baths which had become popular among urban intellectuals, seeing them as a corruption of morality.

                The first nude beach in Germany was established in 1920 on the island of Sylt.  In 1933 when Hitler took power, nudist organizations were banned or integrated into Nazi organizations.  The first naturist Olympic Games took place in Thielle, Swtizerland in 1939. In 1942 the first documented nude wedding was celebrated in Elysian Fields, California.  InGermany during this time the ban against nude swimming was softened by allowing nud swimming in remote areas  One popular form of Freikörperkultur is Nacktwanderung, literally translated as Naked rambling, where a walking group will collectively hike through the open countryside, which is possible in Germany due to the liberal laws on non-sexual public nudity. This attitude does not extend to German speaking Austria or Switzerland.

In the later decades of the 20th century, naturism became very popular outside Germany. Beach culture was often intermixed - nude and dressed people would swim together and nudity was widely tolerated.  Today, there are only few legal restrictions on public nudity in Germany.In Austria local regulatory authorities punished public nudity with fines, which many naked ramblers refused to pay.  Many naked ramblers filed a group lawsuit, pleading for legalized nudity, but the case was dismissed in 2011. One naked rambler had to pay a fine after passing through a Christian rehab centre.  In 2012, a naturist from Austria overflew Innerrhoden by parachute, but was caught by local authorities.

1.     1.   FKK definition; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freik%C3%B6rperkultur

2. Naturism definition; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturism

Denise Bechtold

Jeff Foster

Maria Mueller

Chapter 5

Talk about the War End

The men talked out what they would each do after or if the war ended. They called it, “Peace – Time.” The first comment made to this was, “There won’t be any peace-time.” You have got to remember the mindset they must be in, they are enduring some much during the war.  Some of the other ideas they mention include; getting drunk, take a train elsewhere, go home and visit family, basically going to see prostitutes, wearing real clothes, and sleeping in a nice bed. This moment of thought lasted a short time before one said, “What silly questions you do ask.” They all thought it was ridiculous and won’t happen.        

The rumors that the men have been hearing are true; Himmelstoss has been brought to the front lines.  As he approaches the men ignore him and disobey rank.   They do not rise and click they’re heels together to him.  Himmelstoss is infuriated by this and demands that Tjaden address his higher rank.  Tjaden does, but in an insubordinate way by mooning him.  Himmelstoss returns to the barracks for the MP’s, as he does Tjaden escapes and hides as he knows this means lock up.  This stand by Tjaden is in response to the degradation that the men endured under Himmelstoss’ reign during training.

                Muller continues with his questioning about what will happen during “peace time”.  They calculate that only 12 men remain from their class of 20 men, 4 are dead, 1 insane, and 7 wounded.  They mock Kantorek and ask questions from school.  This is showing that all that they had “learned” in school means nothing here, and that it is forgotten during these difficult times.  The learning that they had been taught in school as normal “kids” will not be used in their lifetime.  Kropp closes this in stating how the war has destroyed everything for them and that there is no going back to normal, they can believe in nothing but war now.  

                Himmelstoss returns with the sergeant major and demands to know the whereabouts of Tjaden, but the troop refuses to disclose this information.  The sergeant major declares that Tjaden must report within 10 minutes.  With every sentence that Himmelstoss delivers the men torment him.  Himmelstoss returns once more and demands Tjaden, Kropp insults him yet again with harsh words and Himmelstoss storms away.  That evening Kropp and Tjaden are brought to trial for insubordination, Tjaden receives 3 days open arrest and Kropp one after the men from the troop tell the court about the torment and abuse that Himmelstoss put them under during training.  The sergeant major scolds Himmelstoss for his actions in training as well.  Later Paul and the others visit Kropp and Tjaden in lockup and play cards and speak again.

Towards the end of the chapter Kat says to Paul, “What do you say to some roast goose?” after Paul agrees they catch a ride on a munition-wagon which cost them two cigarettes to the spot that Kat has marked. During their little adventure Paul agrees to get the goose and climbs over the wall and goes to the shed to open the door. After Paul sees the geese the attempt to stun them doesn’t go as fast as he had hoped it would. He fights desperately claiming, “What a kick a goose has!” This illustrates the struggle he has with stunning the geese. His situation becomes more stressful when he spots a bulldog from outside that growls at every move he makes. After what seems like forever Paul is able to jerk his revolver up and escapes the dog with one goose. Kat quickly kills the goose and he and Paul make their way to the lean-to to cook it. While the two take turns sleeping and cooking Paul hears the sound of gun-fire from the front and thoughts begin to consume his mind. Paul describes his feelings as, “We are two men, two minute sparks of life; outside is the night and the circle of death.” At this point in the chapter Paul realizes he is now in unison with someone whom he should never have had anything in common with. As he continues to think he sees two soldiers with big boots, and a shut heart who have forgotten all else but marching. After they feast on the goose they take the rest back to Tjaden and Kropp. The chapter ends with Paul describing himself as, “A soldier with big boots and a full belly, a little soldier in the morning—but by my side, stooping and angular, goes Kat, my comrade.” This chapter shows how Paul and his friends continue to form close knit unit and how the bond between soldiers is one like no other.

I was just a postman, a happy German man. Living life as one would day to day, becoming more mundane and repetitive each day, and yet I was happy.  I became the law, the authority, and the disciplinarian.  Men are to report and click their heels to me upon command.  I am to be respected.  I made my men prepared for war.  I was brought into war, but I am still the disciplinarian.  But now, I am nothing but a soldier.  I am scared, ashamed, and broken.  Please stay and make me go no further.  I wish not to see this anymore, I wish to go home and return to my simple life.  My name is Herr Himmelstoss.